The Hutt News THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 1928. M.P.'s HONORARIUMS.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 21, 18 October 1928, Page 4

The Hutt News THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 1928. M.P.'s HONORARIUMS.

~ In the columns of the daily press last week there appeared., an article from the pen of Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P., on the question of the adequacy of the honorarium now paid to our members of Parliament. From that article it is clear that the question is agitating the minds of those in Parliament as a committee —of which Mr. Sidey was chairman—had been set up to go fully into the matter. That the committee deems £450 per year an inadequate remuneration Mr Sidey makes plain, and he proceeds to give reasons for such an opinion. Practically all members of Parliament reside outside of Wellington, and it is, therefore, necessary for them to find board and lodging for about five months of the year in the capital city, living for a period of each year away from their home and family or to rent furnished quarters, which, in these days, is a very expensive proceeding. How many clubs, societies, leagues, guilds, etc., place members of Parliament on their lists as presidents or vice-presi-

dents and thus make an opening for these members to send along a cheque as a donation to the funds of such institution. It is well known that the hard-up, those in dire need, the unemployed, seek help from our parliamentarians, many of whom, being unable to help in other ways or »in exactly the direction required, hand out a cash donation as a mark of practical sympathy. These are but some of the ways by which members of Parliament get rid of at least a fair portion of their honorarium of £450. Of course it can be, and is, argued that the session lasts but from four to five months per year and therefore members may then return .to their private vocations or take up \mtk suitable to their physical health or abilities. None will gainsay this, "but it is well to remember that a parliamentary session is very wearying; long hours sometimes all night, long committee meetings demanding mental concentration, sitting in a close chamber under

artificial lighting, all undoubtedly making a complete rest after the session imperative. As a people We do not remember a great many wit!) private means and the consequent leisure who would go into political life for the joy of serving their country. He who goes into politics has much to put up "with, and many of the very men who are needed will not enter the arena and so submit themselves to the slurs ; inuendoes and calumnies so often directed against our public men. The same amount of time, energy and brain power put into any of the professions, arts or crafts as members of the House put into politics would most' assuredly produce more, and ■with few calls upon such earnings, than is paid to them as an honorarium. The question arises: "If the man who works for a private firm is paid in proportion to his work and responsibility, why should those who represent the people in Parliament and thus are working for the State, not receive full and adequate payment?" Some assert that to increase the payment will bring out an undesirable class, viz., ' < professional politicians." But surely the remedy for this —or better still the prevention of this —is in the hands of the people themselves at the ballot-box. In our opinion our legislators are, in view of all the circumstances, underpaid, and it is to be hoped that the new Parliament will, in its first session, give the matter full and sympathetic consideration. While the foregoing is, in our opinion, true, it is also quite logical and fair that the public who find the money should demand from its aspiring legislators some evidence of their fitness for such responsible task. They should have full preparation in such sciences as sociology, including political economy, and logic, in order that they may be fitted to bring to bear upon all legislation that clear, logical thinking, along sound economic lines that is imperative, when the welfare of the people is at

stake.